The government recommends a limit of four units a week during pregnancy but
one hospital recorded 4 women drinking more than 34 units a week

Thousands of women are drinking too much during pregnancy, it has emerged.

A significant number of women have admitted drinking more than the government recommended limit of four units a week – equivalent to two large glasses of wine.

Hospital figures suggest that more than 2,000 babies a year are born to mothers who have breached alcohol guidelines, according to an investigation by Sky News.

In the worst cases South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust recorded 4 women drinking more than 34 units a week.

The figures – obtained following a Freedom of Information request – show that in the last three years 2,496 mothers-to-be told hospital staff in England they were drinking more than four units of alcohol a week.

Babies born to mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy are at risk of developing foetal alcohol syndrome – a lifelong condition that can leave children physically and mentally disabled.

One woman whose son was born with condition said she was given little information about the consequences of drinking during pregnancy despite telling the midwife about her years of alcoholism.

Samantha Marchant, 40, from Slough, said: "When I was five months pregnant, I told the midwife that I was an alcoholic and that I couldn't control my drinking.

"They referred me to a drug and alcohol team which put me on a drinks diary ... I'd have liked them to say 'you can have a place in rehab, but it wasn't offered.

"I didn't know about the biology of what happens if you drink in pregnancy," Marchant added. "I didn't know that my baby would be swimming in alcohol. I would have sought help if I'd have known."

Dr. Raja Mukherjee, lead clinician for the national foetal alcohol spectrum disorder clinic at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said Ms Marchant is not alone in continuing to drink during pregnancy.

"All the research has shown that high level alcohol exposure causes significant damage to a developing foetus,” she said.

"We know that women are drinking more ... 90% of women in this country drink and they don't all suddenly stop when they are pregnant."